Kazakh musicians on tour in Italy

22.11.2016 09:46 971

Kazakh musicians were warmly welcomed in Italy. Artists of Kazakhstan organized two concerts dedicated to the 25th anniversary of Kazakhstan’s independence in Italy’s major cities of Milan and Rome. Musicians of KazakhConcert group played some of the best Kazakh kuis, folk music arrangements to the Italian public. Folklore ensemble "Serper" is on tour in Rome for the third time.

Bekaidar KALIEV, HEAD OF SERPER FOLKLORE ENSEMBLE:

We gave a concert in Milan. Everything was wonderful, we were welcomed friendly. For Europe, the Kazakh national music is very exotic. Foreign audience likes it very much, and we even had standing ovations. People asked us to play Italian compositions on the Kazakh instruments.

Azamat ZHYLTYRKOZOV, SOLOIST, HONORED WORKER OF KAZAKHSTAN:

It’s a great honor and responsibility to perform here. We have come to the cultural capital of the entire Europe, where fashion and art originates from. We were able to impress the local spectators, the music lovers even though they are very sophisticate and it’s hard to surprise them.

Hall of the Academy of Santa Cecilia in Rome is one of the most famous concert halls. Music of the great steppe is really unusual for the audience. Therefore, the concert program was made so that the audience was able to appreciate all the richness and uniqueness of the Kazakh musical culture. Musicians presented arrangements played on traditional dombyra, sacred kyl-kobyz, zhetygen and clay saz-syrnay. After such fascinating concert, Kazakh artists were warmly welcomed in Rome.

Roberto GIULIANI, DIRECTOR, SANTA CECILIA CONSERVATORY:

A lot of students come to study in our conservatory, including ones from Kazakhstan. And we want to support these contacts and make new ones. Therefore, I am sure this is only one of the first concerts in Italy. Of course, it's very unusual today to see in our hall Kazakh costumes and hear Kazakh music. But from now on we will meet more often.

The audience was also impressed by the Italian music masterpieces performed by the artists of Kazakhstan. The famous "Speak to me of love, Maria" of 1932, was also presented in a new style with folk instruments accompaniment. Sounds of the dombra reminded of Mandolin - an Italian folk instrument.